Apparatus for building hollow concrete structures.



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PATENTED-'NOV. 27, 1906.

J. H. MOCOY. APPARATUS POR BUILDING HOLLOW CONCRETE STRUCTURES.

APP'LwATIoN FILED un. 2v. 190s.

UNITEB.- s'rAEs rErENT OFFICE.

JOHN HUGH MCCOY, OF HARRISVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR BUILDING HOLLOW CONCRET'E STRUCTURES.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HUGH MCCOY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Harrisville, in the county of Butler and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Building Hollow Concrete Structures, of which thefollowing is a s ecification, reference being had therein to 51e accom.anying drawings, forming part of this speci cation, in which- Figure 1is a plan view of my improved apparatus for building hollow concretestructures, the platform having been removed from the sup orting-frame.Fig. 2 is a vertical sectiona view on the line II II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a cross-sectional detail view on the line III III of Fig. 1. Fig. 4is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the structure at oneside, indicated by the line IV IV of F ig. 2, and illustrating theoperation of releasing the inner and outer walls of the moldingapparatus from the molded wall.

.M invention refers to apparatus for building iollow structures ofconcrete-such as silos, cisterns, wells, &c.-and is designed for thepurpose of roviding an adjustable mechanism by whic the walls of suchstructure, preferably cylindrical, may be built up of any desiredthickness or internal diameter as to the structure itself in aneconomical, rapid, and convenient manner.

In carrying out my invention I employ a vertically-adjustable frameprovided with a platform adapted to sup ort the workmen and rawmaterial, from Wliich frame depend the inner and outer laterallyadjustable molding walls or shells between which the wall of concrete isgraduallyfomned upwardly by successive steps.

Referring to the drawings, 2 represents the main supporting members of aframe upon which is mounted a platform 3, preferably circular, theholding frame and platform being supported at the center or at any otherconvenient points from the downwardly-depending terminal 4 of a crane orothersnpporting or lifting mechanism..

The wall-molding elements of the invention comprise an inner ring orshell 5 and an outer ring or shell 6, of sheet metal, concentricallyarranged with an intervening space 7. These shells areof suflicientdepth. to provide for a considerable section of concrete being depositedbetween them and are supported downwardly below the framework 3 bySpecification of Letters Iatent.

Application filed J annary 27, 1906. Serial No. 298.295.

Patented Nov.` 27, 1906.

j means of suspending-links 8 or other suitable supporting attachments.

F or the purpose of adjusting the walls 5 and 6 toward or from eachother-they are provided at one or more points with connecting-joints 910, by means of which the diameters of both plates or walls may beaccurately adjusted. The plates 5 and 6 may be continuous, if desired,but are preferably made in two or more sections connected together inany suitable manner, as indicated at 11 12, the advantage of suchsupplemental joints being that the diameters of each shell may be veryconsiderably increased or decreased by adding or subtracting one or moresections.

The joints 9 10 are formed by terminal flanges 13 of each end of theplates being connected by bolts 14 of sufficient len th to provideconsiderable latitude of a justment, and preferably provided withinternal jamnuts,th.eir operation being clearly understood fromreference to Fig. 4. For the purpose of preventing the escape of thecontained concrete when the joints are partially opened one of theterminals 15 at one end of each plate overlaps the terminal at the otherend, as clearly shown, and as the plates are comparatively thin suchoverlap ing makes no material difference in the finislied wall.

The operation of the invention is as follows: The framework having beenlowered to the point where it is desired to commence the wall, the space7 is entirely filled with concrete from the platform and then allowed toset for a sufficient time to harden. TheA joints 9 and 10 are thenadjusted so as to dewhereby both of these shells are loosened fromhmding contact with the previouslybuilt wall, whereupon the entirestructure may be raised by the crane or other mechanism a sufficientdistance to provide additional space above the already-built wall, thelower portions of the shells 5 and 6 still embracing the upper portionof said Wall part way, whereupon the shells are again adjusted to theiroriginal positions, the concrete is again filled in and allowed toharden, and the operation just described is repeated. These steps arecontinued until the wall has been built to the desired height, when itmay be finished ofi' at the top or roofed over, as desired. In order tofacilitate the operation, I

crease the diameter of the inner shell 5 andincrease the diameter of theouter shell 6,l

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. readily understood by all those accustomed to the building of concretewalls. It avoids the necessity of the usual plank mold-boxes, is.capable of performing 'its functions in a highly satisfactory andefficient manner, is comparatively light, portable, simple inconstruction, and not liable to get out of order.

The invention may be changed or variedi as, for instance, for thebuilding of oval sof or other form of structures; but all such changesor variations which may be made by the skilled mechanic are to beconsidered as within the scope of the following claims.

1. In apparatus for building hollow concrete structures, the combinationwith an lupper framework having radial arms and fmeans for suspendingthe framework at the' center of an inner and an outer shell, sup-;porngdcmces connecting the shells with the radial arnof the framework,and means for independently adjusting the inner and outer shells tovarying diameters, substantially as set forth.

2. In apparatus for building hollow oonerete structures, the combinationwith an upper framework having radial arms and means for suspending theframework at the center, of an inner and an outer shell, supportingdevices connecting the shells with the radial arms of the framework,said shells being composed of two or more overlapping sections, andprovided at their meeting ends with laterally-arranged fianges andsecuringbolts capable of holding the shells at varying diameters,substantially as set forth.

3. In apparatus for building hollow concrete structures, the combinationwith an upper framework having radial arms and means for suspending theframework at the center, of an inner and an outer shell,supportingdevices connecting the shells with -the radial arms of theframework, said shells being composed of two or more overlappingsections, and provided at their meeting ends with overlapping terminalsand laterally-arranged flanges, and securing-bolts capable of holdingthe shells at varying diameters, substantially as set forth.

4. In apparatus for building hollow concrete structures, the combinationwith an upper framework having radial arms and means for suspending theframework at the porting devices connecting the shells with the radialarms of the framework and adapted to allow of limited relative lateralmovement with relation to said framework, said shells being composed oftwo or more overlapping sections, and provided at their meeting endswith overlapping terminals and laterally arranged flanges, andsecuringbolts capable of holding the shells at varying diameters,substantially as set forth.

5. In apparatus for building hollow concrete stru'ctures, thecombination of a supporting-framework provided with a circular platform,and a depending mold comprising an inner and an outer shell the edge ofsaid platform approximately conforming to the circumferential spacebetween the shells, substantially as set forth.

6. In apparatus for building hollow concrete structures, the combinationof a supporting-framework provided with a circular platform, and adepending mold comprising an inner and an outer shell, with means formately conforming totlie circumferential space between the shells,substantially as set forth.

7. In apparatus for building hollow conan inner and an outer shell, withmeans for adjusting the diameter of each shell the edge of said platformapproximately conforming to the circumferential space between theshells, substantially as set forth.

8. In apparatus for building hollow concrete structures, the combinationof a supporting-frameworklpiddlatfits center and pro-vided with acovering-platform, independent inner and outer cylindrical shells ofsheet metal supported below said framework by depending rods or links,said shells being composed of two or more sections and provided at theirmeeting ends with overlapping extensions and laterallydisposed flanges,with adjusting-bolts engaging the flanges and capable of tightening theshells or of allowing expansion thereof, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

.loi-1N HUGH Mcoor.

Witnesses W. J. HAn'sHAw, CQ G. HARsHAw.

center, of an inner and an outer shell, supcrete structui'es, thecombination of a sup-x port1ngf1ar nework proyided with a circular ypl'itfoi'irffand adepending mold comprising varying the interveningdistance between said shells the edge of said platform approxi- IOO IIO

